Living in Eastern San Diego

Renting an Eastern San Diego apartment locates you in a swath of the city known for its family-friendly communities, abundant medical facilities, and extensive parkland. Everything in between Interstate 8, Interstate 805, the Mount Soledad Freeway, and within the city limits is included in this section of San Diego. You’ll find the neighborhoods of Allied Gardens, Birdland, Del Cerro, Grantville, Kearny Mesa, Lake Murray, Mission Valley East, San Carlos, Serra Mesa, and Tierrasanta here.

Most of Eastern San Diego saw development in the post-war period. That said, this is where you’d go to visit the Mission of San Diego de Alcala. It was moved to Mission Valley East in 1774. More recently, the U.S. military operated bases in Eastern San Diego. Camp Kearny gave Kearny Mesa its name and Camp Elliot served as a training facility for Marines. These bases have closed and given way to homes, shops, and schools.

Eastern San Diego Lifestyle and Entertainment

If you’re looking to head out on the town in Eastern San Diego, you’ll have a few good options. Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa boasts a bunch of Asian ethnic eateries. Mission Valley East is your best bet for shopping, with a number of malls in the neighborhood. You can also head to Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers. Grantville is another commercial area. There you’ll find a Home Depot and dozens of other retail stores.

On the eastern edge of the city, Mission Trails Regional Park presents 5,800 acres of open space and over 40 miles of trails. Lake Murray—a reservoir—is included in the park. You can go for a kayak, watch the birds, or enjoy catch-and-release fishing there.

Eastern San Diego Info and the Rental Market

Eastern San Diego rentals range from secluded single-family homes to apartments in sizable developments. All kinds of people choose to live in this part of the city, from SDSU students and professors to retirees. Average rents range from lows of $1,094 a month in Allied Gardens to a high of $2,102 in Del Cerro.

Commuting from Eastern San Diego is relatively easy. The San Diego Trolley Green Line more or less follows the path of Interstate 8 as it travels east. If you’re not close to these tracks, there are buses that can help you get Downtown.

Eastern San Diego Resources

There are United States Post Offices in Tierrasanta, Serra Mesa, and Grantville. Numerous branches of the San Diego Public Library serve Eastern San Diego, including the San Carlos, Allied Gardens, and Mission Valley libraries. Eastern San Diego falls within San Diego City Council Districts 6 and 7. There are a number of medical facilities in the Birdland neighborhood, including Sharp Memorial Hospital and Rady Children’s Hospital.

Search By Property Type

Advertisement

Advertisement

Rent.com is the only free rental site that helps you find an affordable apartment, gives you tips on how to move and then says, "Thank you" with a pre-paid $100 Rent.com Visa® Reward Card. Here's how it works.